Briefings

Dyslexic
Kids' Brains Must Work Five Times Harder

For the first time, a study has confirmed that there are chemical differences
in the brain function of dyslexic and non-dyslexic children. UW
researchers found that dyslexic children use nearly five times the
brain area as normal children while performing a simple language task,
the UW reported Oct. 6.

Dyslexia, a reading disorder, is the most common learning disability,
affecting an estimated 5 to15 percent of children (see "Learning
Curves," Dec. 1998 Columns). The research also provides new evidence
that dyslexia is a brain-based disorder.

UW researchers used a brain-imaging technique to track the metabolic
brain activity of six dyslexic and seven non-dyslexic boys during oral
language tasks. "The dyslexics were using 4.6 times as much area of the
brain to do the same language task as the controls," says UW Radiology
Professor Todd Richards. "This means their brains were working a lot harder
and using more energy than the normal children."

"People often don't see how hard it is for dyslexic children to do a
task that others do so effortlessly," adds Education Professor Virginia
Berninger, who also led the project. "When a child has a brain-based disorder,
it is treatable, although it may not be curable, just as diabetes is.
Dyslexia is a lifelong condition, but dyslexics may learn to compensate
for it later in life. We know dyslexia is a genetic and neurological disorder.
It is not brain damage. Dyslexics often have enormous talents in other
parts of their brain and shine in many fields."